U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) cruised to re-election in the 2020 general election on Tuesday night, but his Republican opponent indicated there may he might not be done with politics in his concession speech.
With 80 percent of votes counted, Markey had 66.6 percent support to Dover attorney Kevin O’Connor’s 33.4 percent. This was O’Connor’s first run for elected office.
The Associated Press called the race shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m., and O’Connor delivered his concession speech around 9:16 p.m. on Tuesday night.
Here is what O’Connor said:
Thank you so much everyone, so I just called Senator Markey to congratulate him on his well-earned victory. He’s had a tremendous year in terms of winning a primary that’s a difficult challenge, and he has conducted this campaign with civility. I appreciate that and hope and I believe that we have elevated the debate through the course of this campaign.
I want to thank the people gathered in this room, most especially my exceptional campaign staff for the phenomenal work that they did and we did, and our volunteers across this state. We faced enormous odds. We faced enormous odds. The weight of the system is so tilted in favor of the established interests. Our opponents collectively spent probably $40 million. They spent a massive amount of money, and outspent us 20 times. We put up a robust fight and a great fight. And I think we won the argument on the merits, but you learn in competition that victory isn’t this game, it’s the next game. I believe that we have advanced the cause for public safety and good jobs and Massachusetts.
And I want everyone to know, especially the law enforcement community and for veterans and for people who sacrifice for our country and people who sacrifice for Massachusetts every day that this campaign was this family’s expression of respect and gratitude for your wonderful service to this country. We are so grateful.
I told our team win, lose, or draw November 4th, we go back to work, and that’s exactly the spirit with which we’re gonna attack it. Thank you so much. God bless America. Thank you all.
